The Rise of German empire

Sufficient financial resources, combined with robust shipbuilding capabilities and highly skilled naval personnel, had allowed the British Navy to establish a dominant presence on the world's oceans, leaving other nations trailing far behind. For centuries, the Royal Navy had remained unchallenged, with powerful adversaries attempting to wrest away maritime supremacy, only to see their efforts crumble in the face of British might. The sea remained firmly in British hands, a strategic advantage that allowed the Empire to maintain its global empire and reaped untold wealth from its vast colonies.

As Sir Benavan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, sat across from Sir Fisher, the Lord of the Admiralty, he leaned back in his chair, a smug grin creeping across his face. "Your Excellency, I can only imagine the look on the Germans' faces when they realize that their prized battleships—both completed and under construction—are now obsolete," he laughed, his tone dripping with arrogance. "William II will probably go mad with rage when he hears the news! For all their investments in naval expansion, their new ships are no more than rusting relics compared to ours."

Sir Fisher chuckled along with the Prime Minister, though the gravity of the situation was not lost on him. The Germans had poured enormous resources into their naval fleet in recent years, attempting to challenge British maritime dominance. Their growing strength had made the British uneasy, threatening the very foundation of the Empire's global influence.

"The Germans are indeed obsessed with competing in the naval arms race," Sir Fisher remarked. "But they are no match for the superior design and efficiency of our new battleships. They'll see their efforts rendered useless, and their entire strategy will collapse."

"I do enjoy the thought of it," Sir Benavan replied, his voice filled with venom. "For so long, Germany has been nipping at our heels, but now it's time for them to fall behind. Of course, as you said, it's not just their battleships that are outdated. Their naval doctrine, their strategies—all obsolete now. Perhaps this will finally teach them their place in the world."

The conversation shifted to more practical matters. "However, Your Excellency, I'm afraid our new battleship, the Dreadnought, can't remain a secret for much longer," Sir Benavan said, his brow furrowed in concern. "Our spies are everywhere, and word travels fast. If the Germans learn of this new ship too soon, it could jeopardize the advantage we currently hold."

"I understand your concern," Sir Fisher replied, "but it's almost impossible to keep such a colossal ship under wraps. Once it's launched and seen floating on the waters, it will be like a mountain in the sea—there's no way it can go unnoticed."

The Prime Minister paused, weighing the situation. "Then we must ensure that even if the Germans do learn about the Dreadnought, they won't be able to replicate its design for years to come. And in the meantime, we'll continue building the next generation of warships that will further widen the gap between us and them."

Sir Fisher nodded confidently. "Indeed, Your Excellency. Even if the Germans learn of our new battleship, they can't begin to counter it for at least two years. By that time, we will have begun work on our next-class ships. And once the Dreadnought is completed and enters service, we will already be moving ahead with our next-level designs. They won't have a chance to catch up."

"That's what I like to hear," Sir Benavan said, his voice now more assured. "We will not only keep our lead in numbers but in quality as well. We must make sure that Germany never comes close to challenging our sea power again."

"Exactly," Sir Fisher agreed, his voice filled with resolve. "We have already begun the design process for the next-class battleship, which we plan to start building later this year. And our artillery experts are working on a new 13.5-inch naval gun that will serve as the main armament for these ships. If the Dreadnought is a 'super dreadnought' for its time, then our next battleship will take that concept even further."

"Good, good," Sir Benavan responded enthusiastically. "If the Germans think they can match us, they are gravely mistaken. The British Empire will maintain its supremacy on the seas, and we will ensure that no one—least of all the Germans—can challenge our dominance."

Meanwhile, across the Channel, Germany's intelligence network was already hard at work. The German Navy's espionage efforts in the United Kingdom had always been highly effective, and they soon learned of the Dreadnought's launch. The data about the new battleship quickly found its way back to the German Admiralty.

When the information was delivered to Admiral Tirpitz, he was livid. "The Naval Technical Committee were fools! If they had just listened to me and supported the new design, we could have had a Dreadnought of our own, and perhaps even ahead of the British! The opportunity to narrow the gap with their fleet was right in front of us, and now it's too late!"

His anger was palpable as he paced back and forth, cursing the Naval Technical Committee for their refusal to back a more modern approach. If only they had listened to the younger minds, like Qin Tian, who had offered revolutionary designs. But now, those designs were powering the British Navy forward, and Germany had been left to play catch-up.

Back in Berlin, Emperor Wilhelm II was briefed on the situation, and his reaction was nothing short of explosive. "Outrageous!" he thundered. "How could we let them get so far ahead? These British fools think they can just waltz into the future with their new ships. We'll show them we're not finished yet."

With fury in his eyes, Wilhelm ordered an emergency meeting of the Imperial War Council. Count von Warren, the head of the Naval Technical Committee, was summoned to answer for the blunder that had allowed the British to race ahead in naval development.

"This is an embarrassment for all of us!" Wilhelm roared as the meeting began. "A British teenager's design has outclassed our entire fleet! What will the world think of the might of the German Navy now?"

The tension in the room was palpable as the committee members braced for the fallout from their failure to recognize the value of new designs. They knew that this was not merely a matter of professional embarrassment; it was a threat to the entire German naval strategy and, ultimately, to the prestige of the Kaiser's Empire.

The race for naval dominance was far from over, but the scales had tipped decisively in favor of the British. The Dreadnought's launch marked a turning point in naval warfare, and now the Germans would have to contend with the consequences of their failure to adapt quickly enough. As the British prepared for their next wave of innovations, the Germans were left scrambling, trying to make up for lost time. The battle for supremacy on the seas had just begun—but for now, the British Empire stood unchallenged.